2020 Player Rankings: Baltimore Prospects Part One

We’ve made our way through the 2018 and 2019 Baltimore prospects from the updated player rankings. Now we come to arguably the most talented class of them all, the sophomores. Throughout the entire DMV area, there are 6-8 high major prospects with the likelihood of that number growing as the years go by. Because of some big summer performances, the rankings have seen a few changes at the top.

Justin Lewis | 6’8 | Poly/Team Melo

Previous Ranking: 4

New Ranking: 2

Despite suffering an ankle injury that sidelined him for a month or so, Lewis had a very productive summer. He was an invitee to the USA Men’s Junior National Team October Minicamp in Colorado. The 6’8 forward then made a splash when he announced that he would transfer from Calvert Hall to Poly. Lewis fills a huge void that Dre Perry (Temple) left and will be a key contributor in the Engineers making another run at the 3A state title. Lewis, who is considered as one of the most versatile forwards in the country, holds offers from Georgia Tech, UNLV, St. John’s, Penn State, Old Dominion, Kansas State and Boston College.

Baldwin was a force on the UAA Circuit this summer for Team Thrill. He ranked third in assist rate at 26.4 percent. Baldwin is one of the smartest floor generals in the country. What makes him so valuable is his ability to adapt to whatever situation is put in front of him. Give him scorers? He can finish the game with 10-15 assists. Give him hustle players? Baldwin will give you 20+ points while still creating open shots for teammates. St. Frances has a chance of being a nationally ranked program this season and a large part of that has to do with Baldwin being at the helm. The new Team BBC prospect holds offers from Miami, Kansas State, UConn, Drexel, Denver, Tulsa and Colorado State.

Evans continues to see his name trend throughout national sites and many different programs have become involved in his recruiting. The 6’8 wing is a tremendous scorer who can feel it up from anywhere on the floor. His three-point shot continues to improve a combination of length and athleticism makes him a viable threat around the rim. If Evans can put the same effort on the defensive floor, sky’s the limit. He’s already a productive rebounder and has a good motor. But for Dulaney this season, he’ll need to be a paint presence in order for the Lions to take down the teams like Perry Hall, Woodlawn, and Milford Mill. Evans holds offers from Georgia Tech, UNLV, St. John’s, TCU, Penn State, Old Dominion, Boston College and Kansas State.

Ali had to battle through an injury for the large part of the summer, but was able to make it back and play in the St. Paul’s Summer League where he had a nice showing. The shifty point guard is one of the best operators in pick-and-roll sets in the state. He devoted much of his time improving his outside shot, while already being an efficient finisher around the rim. If he can patch up his mid-range game coming off the ball-screen he’ll be a difficult match up. Ali doesn’t just look to score off the screen. He delivers pocket passes and skip passes on the money for open shots. His defensive prowess and basketball IQ will be crucial once again for the Engineers. He helped lead them to a state title his freshman season, can he conduct another run in 2017-18?

Jordan Toles | 6’2 | St. Frances/Team Thrill

Previous Ranking: 23

New Ranking: 17

Toles may be the most athletic prospect in the state for the class of 2020. The 6’2 guard has the build of a college freshman and continues to develop both on and off the court. The dual-sport athlete recently received an offer from Michigan for football. For now, he continues to make plays on the field, but come November, he’ll be a key player for the Panthers’ rotation. Toles has improved on his jumpshot both off the catch and off the dribble. His jumper has been the one of the few blemishes in his game. In the open floor, Toles is must-see for poster finishes. The Team Thrill product holds one offer from Denver.